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All summer the 22nd has been a far off date that we thought (and hoped) would never actually arrive, but here it is and our trio must finally disperse. Yes, we sound a bit dramatic, but when you have spent every day and night together for three months you can’t quite imagine it any other way. Helen and Tallulah will fly back to Boston tonight and Becca will hang around California for a couple more days before going to Arizonia on the 26th. 

Although we more or less ended our biking journey in San Diego the adventures have continued as we traveled up the coast. We left San Diego on our bikes but our ride was brief as Jeff, Helen’s cousin, picked us up in La Jolla. We spent two nights with Jeff and Carol in their full and happy house– three kids, handsome Dylan and the adorable twins Clare and Aiden, two dogs, Riley and Rocky, two cats, Lucy and Oliver and some chickens that provided us with fresh eggs for breakfast. As always it was great to be in a home and such a loving and happy one was a real treat. Thanks Carol and Jeff!

From there we took a train ride filled with some memorable characters to Los Angeles. Along the way we learned all about the newest L.A. diet craze (peanuts and orange juice) from a woman trimming her split ends. We arrived in L.A. and were given a warm welcome by Michelle, Jeremy and Steve Becca’s aunt, cousin and uncle. We ate a delicious dinner and were again given a comfortable bed and permission to raid the fridge– one of our favorite pastimes. 

Getting from L.A. to San Francisco proved to be easier than initially expected. Through craig’s list we found Michael dropping off a fuel tank in San Fran and got a ride with him all the way to Berkeley– door to door service! 

Our first night in the Bay Area we stayed with Lizzie and Patrick, who took us in late night and very last minute. Thank You! The next day we went to see Jenny who really made the trip come full circle because she had sent us off way back in the beginning, coming to 9 Cutler at 5am to wish us a bon voyage. Seeing her on the West coast and telling her all our stories solidified the fact that all this was coming to a close. 

After Jenny’s we went back across the bay to Berkeley to meet Helene, Susan, and David for a true welcoming celebration complete with champagne and yet another delicious home cooked meal. Helene was very happy to get her baby (Tallulah) back in her arms and gave Helen and Becca a taste of what they are in for when they arrive home. 

We have been bouncing around the Bay area between our two swanky addresses in Berkeley and San Fran thanks to Susan and David who have put up with a gaggle of giggling girls and Jenny who has joined the gaggle. 

other highlights:  having dinner with the one and only Ada McMahon made us all feel like Minnie was right there with us

also… Chris brace yourself, Helen got a tatoo (see photos below). Tallulah was talking the talk but chickened out at the last minute to her father’s delight.

Thanks Michelle!!

 Susan gave us a great welcoming in San Francisco

 She even tracked us on her fridge all summer!

 Riding unloaded was weird, but it made San Francisco’s steep hills seem easy.

 We finally got to ride across the Golden Gate bridge.

 We are still really excited to be by the Pacific Ocean

 Mom- did I mention I got a tattoo??

 Tallulah was more nervous than me.

 Last night out in San Fran

 Thanks for hosting us Jenny and Kelsey!!

 Down the hatch!!

We rode the last 80 miles of our cross country journey with bittersweet feelings.  We arrived in San Diego at sunset…appropriate as we ended many of our days riding towards the westward setting sun.  We sat overlooking the Pacific and smoked a victory cigar.

San Diego has been a bit of a shock for us bikers who are used to sleeping on the side walk, not showering, and hanging out in small towns.  However, we are readjusting to “normal” life and are about to start trekking towards San Fran!

 Gotta love Congress, AZ

 We saw some nice sunrises following our night rides.

 Our last big climb (17 miles up after having biked all night…)

 Thanks Laurie!  You made our last night on the road really special.

 The Pacific at last!!!

 The following is a tribute to Subway 5 dollar foot longs–we ate them more than anything else on this trip.

 We love you Levi!

 Thanks for breakfast-hope you had a nice honeymoon!

 Thanks Mike!

 Becca’s first horseback riding experience with Riley

 Karoke at the Arrowhead Saloon “where anything can happen, anytime.”

 Nora-explain this geologically PLEASE!

We spent two nights at the Grand Canyon.  The first night, we did not get in until late because we were unaware of the 35 mile climb that led into it.  However, it was nice to set up camp in the dark and then wake up to the view of the Grand Canyon the next morning!  The next day we hung out around the national park, watching the sunset with our feet dangling over the edge of the Grand Canyon. 

The next day we continued on to Flagstaff, where we stayed with Joel and Audrey and their wonderful children for the night.  We then went on to Prescott, a cool college town where we met Mike, who let us camp on his lawn for the night.  (Thanks!)  After getting everything we needed from the bike shops there, we set off to more climbing and spectacular views, ending the day in Congress, AZ.  We found a hole in the wall karoke bar where we made friends with the locals and were a big hit on the mike (especially the boys’ rendition of “Girls Just Want to Have Fun.”) 

From Congress we began our night rides.  Everyone had been telling us that we are crazy to begin the low desert riding during the day in August.  So, fully prepared with water, lights, and maps, we set out for our first night ride.  It ended up being a great idea–we saw stars, biked quickly, and saw very little cars.  We biked 50 more miles to Salome, AZ, arriving at sunrise.  After trying to sleep on the stoop of a closed bar, battling flies and heat, a nice lady took pity on us and gave us a room at a motel for the day, where we took showers, slept, and cooled off in the pool.

My library time is now up, but now we’re in Cali.  Yay!!

Another highlight from Durango was visiting the Smiley Building- a school turned apartment/ art center that left us all wishing we could be as creative with our lifestyle someday.

After reluctantly leaving Durango we biked to the Mesa Verde site and saw the remains of a ancient civilizations in the side of a cave. From there we went to Cortez and celebrated Becca’s birthday (thanks Howie) and briefly entered Utah. The terrain has once again changed drastically. We are in the desert camping under red rocks, avoiding cacti, and struggling to stay hydrated. Yesterday we passed into Arizona after biking through Monument Valley, but first we enjoyed a delicious free lunch courtesy of a fellow biker from California on vacation who wanted to make sure we got our protein for the day. Thank you!

Today we awoke to the sunrising over the beautiful rock formations we had just passed through yesterday. The West is great for camping with so much open land we can always find a magical spot to spend the night and feel like we are in a Jeep commercial.

In the next day or so we should hit the Grand Canyon and Flagstaff where Becca has friends for us to stay with. From there it is just the remainder of Arizona between us and California!